Display apparatus.



B. B. BIENHOFR DISPLAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, me.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

B. B. BIENHOFF.

I DISPLAY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-16,1916- 1,256,%31 Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

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BENJAMIN B. IBIENHOFF, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

DISPLAY APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

Application filed March 16, 1916. Serial No. 84,747.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN B..BIEN- HOFF, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota, have invented a new and useful Display Apparatus, of whichthe following is a specification. Y

My invention relates to display apparatus and more particularly to thedisplaying of flexible signs, etc., which are used in advertisingpurposes. I use a simple supporting means and the signs travel fromfront to the back of the machine in consecutive order during theoperation of the machine.

' A primary object of this invention is the use of a single pair ofcarrying chains which make my device very simple andpositive inoperation.

Further objects of my invention are means for holding the carryingchains rigid when lifting a sign and means forming a part of the chainfor receiving the ends of the ods carrying the signs and holding thembeyond the center of the pivoted points of the chain, thus causing therods to tend to lock themselves into the notched links of the chainrather than twist the chain in the opposite direction and allow the rodsto-fall out of the engaging links.

It is also an object of my invention to have a portion of the ends ofthe rod which carry the signs squared so as to prevent climbing, as theyare held adjacent to each other on the supports in the frame.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is avertical section inside elevation of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of Fig. 1, taken on the lines X-X,showing one-half of the same, as both sides of the machine areidentical.

Fig. 3 is a vertical front section in elevation of a portion of mymachine.

Fig. 4 is a detail showing the discharge of the sign carrying rods on tothe supports.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the carrying chain and a portion of the guide tohold the lifting chain and notched link.

Fig. 6 is a perspective of one end of the rods which carry the signs.

In the drawings, A represents an inclosing frame having back 1, front 2,top 3, bottom 4 and ends 5. The front 2, has an opening 6, which may becovered by a glass 7, and through which the signs are displayed.Declining downwardly toward the front of the frame A and secured to theopposite sides 5, are supports 8, which carry the sign supporting rods10.

The flexible signs B are adapted to be detachably held in the rods 10,by a split pin 9, or any other suitable manner. Near the outer end ofthe rods 10 is a squared portion 11, which is adapted to lie adjacent tothe squared'portion of the adjacent rods as a plurality of rods are heldon the supports 8; thus preventing the tendency of climbing over eachother, as the rods travel by gravity down the declining support 8, whenthe foremost sign is lifted and passed to the back of the series anddeposited on the support 8 again.

The rods 10 are formed with a circular end 12, of the same diameter asthe thickness of the squared portion 11, which rests on the supports 8,to hold the signs in position in the frame A.

A portion 18, of the rods 10 is of smaller diameter than the ends 12,which allows the easy engagement of the rod by the hook on the carryingor lifting chain.

It is obvious that wheels may be used on the ends of the rods 10, inplace of the circular portion 12, to eliminate most of the friction inthe travel of the rods from the front to the back of the supports 8.

The supports 8 are formed with stops 1%, on their forward end, whichhold the foremost sign in displaying position.

The rods 10, and their signs are carried, one at a time, from thedisplaying position at the front of the supports to the rear of theseries by means of a pair of endless carrying chains 15, which travelover the sprockets 18 19, 20, 21, 22 and 45.

The sprockets 20 and 21, are mounted upon shafts 23 and 21,respectively, which extend across the inclosed frame A near the top.

The sprockets 22 are secured to the horizontal shaft 26, which extendsacross the frame A and is held free to move up and down in the U-shapedbearings 24, which are mounted on the sides 5 of the frame, thus keepingthe carrier chain taut at all times.

The idle sprockets 19, are freely j ournaled upon gudgeons 25, which aremounted in any suitable manner on the sides 5 of the frame and thesprockets 18, are freely j ournaled on the gudgeons 27, which aresecured on the sides 5 of the frame.

On one side of the frame A the sprocket 18, has a pulley, rigidlyconnected therewith, in

cured to-the shafts 23 and 24:, and theshafts 23- and 124:, arejournaled in any suitable manner'on thG'OPPOSltGSlClC-JS 50f the frame,

thus the chains 15 will be driven in unison at all I time.

Rollers 28and129 are freelyjournaled on the horizontal shafts 23 and24respectively and extend the, full length betwenthe pairs of sprockets 20and 21, and as the signsB are carried from the front to the back of theframe they'dr-ag on these'rollers which keeps them straight withoutcausing any excessive friction and roller 29 which is freely journaledon the shaft 26 and extending between'the sprockets 22 across themachine assiststo turn the signs over easily as they go down and aroundthe roller 29' and thence upward and deposited upon the sup ports 8 withthe display surfaceforwart 'lhe width of the frame A is just-a trifleg-reater than thelength-of the rods lO, thus the sides 5 of the frame Aact as a guide to the rods as they are moved from one position toanother.

'The'pairs of chains 15 are composed of theordinary links and each chain15 has a link E which is positioned directly opposite the lin'k'E on theother chain and travels in synchronism therewith. One side 32, of thelinks 'E being in the form of a loop with a recess 33, and the otherside 34:, being formed with a forwardl ro'ectin hook or engaging end"35, and backwardly projecting portion 36.

The portion 36 is adapted to carry two horizontallyprojecting rollers37, which are freely journaled on the gudgeons 38 and adapted totravelin'the guides 39, which are secured to either side 5 of the frame A.

The sides 34: ofthe links E have a similar recess'33, as in the side32,- which is adapted toreceive the portion 13 of the rods 10, when thehook '35 engagesthe foremost rod.

Angularly formed guards 41, are secured to the walls or sides'5, aportion of which is'parallel to the supports 8 andpositioned far enoughabove the same to form a free passage-way forthe ends 12 of the rods10,"

but serving to prevent the 'rodsfrom raising upoff the supports untilthey reach the foremost position on the supports 8.

The guards 41 are bent up nearthe "for- Ward end of the supports 8 toform a passage way 42 between the stops and the guards 11 to allow theforemost rod 10 only to'be liftedoff the-supports8 by the engaging linksE of the chainsas they pass the rods in the operation of my apparatus.

Theguards 41 continue upward and curve outward to be in line with theinner edge of the chains-15, thence. continuing inthe same direction andthe same horizontal plane as the inner edge of thechains 15,-thence-tothe back offrame A, around sprocket 21 and down around the sprocket 22,then up tothe sprocket 45. (See 1* ig. 1).

Thus-in: operation the chains 15will travel upward in=the direction ofthearrowsand the rollers 37 ODiJGPthGgUlClBS 39 andas-the hooks35engagethe portion 13 of the fore- -most rods 10 the guides "3'9will hold thehooks rigid-until-the rod is-lifted-from the support 8, and'slides intothe recesses 3.3 of the links E, the guards 41 assisting'in pushing itinto the recess 33 and-as the link E carries the rod up 1 aroundsprocket 2.0, the endsl2= of the rod 10 will'rest onthe guards e1 toprevent'its falling. out of the recess 33.

' lhe guards 41 also serve to hold the rod in the recesses 33, as ittravels with the chains 15, down the back of the machine and aroundsprocket 22 and up to-sprocket 4.5. Oneof theteeth of the sprockets iscut away, so as not:to bind -the -end of the :rod 10 as it passes aroundthe sprockets, and the end 12 of the rod :10, engagesuthe upper rearedge 46 0f the supports 8 which is cam shaped, and thereby forcing therod outof the recesses33 unto the back ofsupport 8, placing it atthe-back of the series-of rods 10, with its same display surface facingforwardly as'illustrated in Fig. 4.

hen-the foremost rodis-removed with its sign B, the next rod andsignslide by gravity into its place against the stops 1 1 and its sign ordisplaysurface is displayed through the aperture 6, until the links Etravel around and engage it and: carry it to the back of the series. V

The I operation is continued in this manner' displaying the signs, oneafter the other, over and over again, is positivein action and simple inoperation.

WVhile Ihave used one particular form of frame and constructiontcillustrate my in vention, I do not wish to confine myself tothisparticular form, whichis only illustrativeandthe invention canbe'carriedout by other means and appliedto other uses within the scopeof the following claims.

:Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. Ina displayapparatus,comprising,-an inclosing :frame, declining supportsin said frame,aseries of rods adapted to rest on said supports, each of-said rodscarrying a most rod with its sign upward, andgfro'm" the front to theback of said frame, said carrying means comprising a pair of chainshaving a pair of recessed links which are adapted to engage the ends ofsaid foremost rod, and means formed on said recessed links for holdingsaid links and chain rigid in a vertical plane while lifting andreceiving said rod in said recessed links.

2. In a display apparatus, comprising, an inclosing frame, decliningsupports in said frame, a series of rods adapted to rest on saidsupports, each of said rods carrying a flexible sign, means for carryingthe foremost rod with its sign from the front to the back of saidsupports, and said sup ports being formed with a semi-circularcam-shaped rear end which is adapted to begin to engage said rod whilestill in said carrying means, and to completely force said rod free ofsaid carrying means, when said carrying means has delivered said rod tothe topmost point of said support, substantially as described.

3. In a display apparatus, comprising, an inclosing frame, decliningsupports, secure to the sides of said frame, a series of rods restingwith their ends upon said supports, each carrying a depending flexiblesign, a pair of endless carriers disposed on opposite sides of saidframe, a pair of links forming a part of said carriers, each having ahook formed on one side and recesses in both sides of said links, saidhooks being adapted to engage the ends of said rods and allow them toslide into said recesses, the back of said hook being formed with anoutwardly projecting portion, upon which are freely journaled rollers, aguide secured to the wall of said frame into which said rollers areadapted to slide when said links are lifting said rods olf of theforward ends of said supports, and thereby hold said links and carrierrigid in a vertical plane, substantially as described.

4. In a display apparatus, comprising, an inclosing frame, decliningsupports in said frame, a series of rods adapted to rest on saidsupports, a pair of chains having a pair of recessed links adapted toengage the ends of the foremost rods on' said supports, a guard abovethe forward end of said support lying parallel thereto, and extendingupwardly at the forward end of said support to allow a passage for theforemost rod resting on said support, said guard curving forwardlytoward said chains, so as to engage the ends of said rod while said rodis being lifted from said supports by said links, and forcing said rodinto said recesses, said guard extending parallel with said chains tothe back of said supports and adapted to hold said rod, and means formedon the ends of said supports for disengaging said rod from said links todeposit said rod on the rear of said supports.

5. In a display apparatus, comprising, an inclosing frame, decliningsupports on either side of said frame, a series of rods adapted to reston said supports, and each of said rods carrying a flexible sign, a pairof chains having a pair of recessed links, one side of each of saidlinks having a forwardly projected hook thereon, an elongated portionformed near the end of said rods of a smaller diameter than the ends ofsaid rods, and a squared portion formed on said rods which is adapted tospace the rods apart, so as to form a space between said elongatedportions of the adjacent rods, thereby allowing the engaging end of saidhooks on the recessed links to pass between the first and second rod onthe supports to engage one rod at a time, said links adapted to carrysaid rods to the back of said supports, and to turn said sign over, sothat the same display surface will face forwardly in said frame.

6. In a display apparatus, comprising, an inclosing frame, decliningsupports in said frame, a series of rods adapted to rest on saidsupports, a pair of chains adapted to travel over a series of sprocketsin said frame, a pair of recessed links on the inside of said chainsforming part of said chains adapted to engage the foremost of said rodsresting on said supports, and carry it over some of said sprockets todeposit said rod on the rear of said supports, said sprockets over whichsaid rod is carried having some of the teeth removed, so as not to bindsaid rod as it passes over the same, substantially as described.

BENJAMIN B. BIENI-IOFF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

